Philadelphia Releases Veteran DT’s Jenkins And Patterson

The Philadelphia Eagles made a pair of roster moves Monday, saying good-bye to two veteran defensive tackles – Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson.

Selected by the Eagles in the first round of the 2005 draft, Patterson had been the team’s longest tenured player, and had played in more games (115) than any other player in Eagles defensive history.

With 114 tackles in 2007, he and Trent Cole became the first pair of Eagles D-linemen since 1991 to record more than 100 tackles in a single season. He was signed through 2016 with base salaries of $2.9 million, $3.65 million, $4.9 million and $6.25 million over the next four years.

“Mike Patterson is one of the toughest players I have ever been around in the National Football League,” general manager Howie Roseman said in a statement released by the team. “He has overcome many obstacles throughout his career and I have the utmost respect for him because of it. Coach Kelly and I each had great conversations with him today. He is a class act. He gave this organization eight great seasons of hard work and dedication and we wish him all the best as he continues his career in this league.”

Jenkins was part of the Eagles’ free-agent spending spree in 2011 when he left the Packers to join Philadelphia on a five-year, $25 million deal. The Eagles were labeled a “dream team” by then-backup quarterback Vince Young after the additions but stumbled to a disappointing 8-8 record that season.

Jenkins agreed to restructure his contract last offseason in order to stay with the Eagles. He was due to make $5.5 million this season.